My mother was admitted to the hospital on Friday because of difficulties in breathing.
About a year and half ago, she was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure and was in the hospital for about a week. Since then, her doctor has managed to keep it under control with medications & oxygen 24/7.
Over the past few weeks, I knew that she wasn't feeling well... but, I also know that she has so many health issues, that it could have been any number of things causing her to feel bad. I didn't really worry about her because I felt that she was in great care at her nursing home.
Friday, I got the "always dreaded" phone call from the nursing home that they were sending her by ambulance to the emergency room. This, of course, was NOT a good day for me to spend at the hospital! (What day is??) David and I were in the middle of shampooing our carpets.
You may think that I am a terrible daughter, but I decided that I would wait and see how serious her condition was before I went rushing down there to sit ALL DAY in the emergency room. I knew that she was in good hands. I did call our pastor to let him know, so that he would be alerted.
Later in the day, she was admitted to the hospital and I learned that they were treating her for the Congestive Heart Failure, once again. Chest x-rays showed fluid on her lungs.
I talked to her on the phone and she sounded good, which made me feel better. I decided to wait until the morning to go visit her.
The next morning (Saturday), she was taken for another x-ray and an EKG. Not long after she came back to her room, the cardiologist that read her x-ray and EKG, came in and talked to us about what he saw.
Apparently, her heart has weakened over the past couple of years to only 40-45%. This is not good, but it explains a lot.
He asked her a lot of questions about her stroke that she had 5 years ago and also about her symptoms with the CHF. He said that for now, they are just going to continue to drain the fluid and to treat her with medications, but he would like to know what is "causing" the CHF.
Yesterday, (Sunday), when I talked to the doctor... he suggested that they do a Heart Catherization on her so that they can determine what the cause is. So... that will most likely happen this afternoon (Monday).
Another problem that we are facing is that, because my mom is on Medicaid, the nursing home can only hold her bed there for so many days. The "number" of days, at the moment, is unclear to me. THAT is my #1 priority this morning ... to find out how many days she has left before she loses her bed.
I am trying VERY hard not to worry about this and to remember that God is in control of the situation and He knows what she needs. AND.... He will take care of her needs and mine.
I have to remember that.... it is not MY will, but HIS.
It's about what HE wants, not what I WANT.
My prayer for my mom is "healing", whether it be on this earth or in God's Kingdom in Heaven.
Thank you.
